Ahead of a tentative Senate vote on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, Senator Warnock joined a group of his Senate Democratic colleagues at a news conference to push for bipartisan support for the bill when it comes to the Senate floor for a vote

Senator Warnock, lawmakers commended efforts by Democrats and Republicans to help move the legislation forward

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I want to thank Senator Hirono and Senator Duckworth for teaching all of us how to transform our pain into power, how to translate our highest values into public policy”

Senator Warnock also highlighted a provision he authored in the legislation to include and center the names of the victims of the March 16 Atlanta shootings that claimed the lives of 8 people, including 6 members of Georgia’s AAPI community

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’m especially proud that my colleagues worked with me to include a critical provision in this legislation that names and acknowledges the pain and experiences of Georgia’s AAPI community specifically, and makes sure we never forget the names attached to lives and families that we lost in the horrific shootings in Atlanta”

ICYMI: Warnock on Atlanta killings: ‘We know hate when we see it’

***WATCH FULL VIDEO OF SENATOR WARNOCK’S REMARKS HERE***

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined a group of his Senate colleagues to encourage bipartisan support for swift passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. Senator Warnock, who is a co-sponsor of the bill, stressed the importance of the bill to efforts to combat anti-Asian American hate and violence, and also highlighted a provision he authored in the legislation to acknowledge the pain and suffering of Georgia’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community following the devastating March 16 shooting that claimed the lives of 8 individuals, including 6 members of the AAPI community. Senator Warnock has previously acknowledged that America’s AAPI communities have experienced racism and discrimination since before the tragic shooting, and has stressed the need for action at the federal level to help protect AAPI individuals.

“I am proud to co-sponsor this critical bill so that Congress and the Justice Department can start collecting much needed data that will help put an end to the threats of hate and violence against our Asian American loved ones and neighbors,” Senator Warnock said at the news conference.“And I’m especially proud that my colleagues worked with me to include a critical provision in this legislation that names and acknowledges the pain and experiences of Georgia’s AAPI community specifically, and makes sure we never forget the names attached to lives and families that we lost in the horrific shootings in Atlanta.”

Senator Warnock later added, “Here’s what’s at stake: Dr. King said we’re tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. He said ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ In that spirit, I hope that all of our Senate colleagues will join us in recognizing the importance of this legislation by affirming our commitment to standing up against hate and helping us pass this bill on the floor.”

Alongside Senator Warnock, Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke in support of the measure, acknowledging the need for bipartisanship to help pass this critical legislation into law. The bill has 44 co-sponsors in the Senate. 

Full Transcript of Senator Warnock’s remarks: 

“Make no mistake, today we stand with the Asian community, not only today but in the days ahead. And we stand against these injuries and insults and assaults which little by little, day by day, step by step, represent not only a kind of violence against this community but eats away at the fabric of a covenant that we have with one another as an American people.

“Martin Niemöller the pastor during Germany’s Third Reich said “First they came for the socialists and I did not speak up because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak because I was not a trade unionist. And then they came for the Jews and I did not speak up because I was not a Jew. And then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”

“I want to thank all of our colleagues, but especially I want to thank Senator Hirono and Senator Duckworth for teaching all of us how to transform our pain into power, how to translate our highest values into public policy. Thank you, Leader Schumer for all of your leadership and inspiration. I am proud to co-sponsor this critical bill so that Congress and the Justice Department can start collecting much needed data that will help put an end to the threats of hate and violence against our Asian American loved ones and neighbors.

“And I’m especially proud that my colleagues worked with me to include a critical provision in this legislation that names and acknowledges the pain and experiences of Georgia’s AAPI community specifically, and makes sure we never forget the names attached to lives and families that we lost in the horrific shootings in Atlanta.

“Last month, this bill has been worked on by Democrats and Republicans. It is necessary, it is urgent. It is bipartisan. After what we saw happen a few weeks ago in Georgia, and we’re seeing too often, violence against AAPI individuals that we keep seeing over and over again, it is absolutely critical for us to act and so I’m glad about the work of the people that’s gotten us closer to getting this bill over the finish line.

“Here’s what’s at stake: Dr. King said we’re tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. He said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. In that spirit, I hope that all of our Senate colleagues will join us in recognizing the importance of this legislation by affirming our commitment to standing up against hate and helping us pass this bill on the floor.”

Watch full video of Senator Warnock’s hearing remarks HERE.

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